At home, Brandi trotted down the stairs from her room, having changed into a sleep shirt and shorts. Ice had promised he would watch the series finale of their show tonight and she was excited to find a distraction from the whole Rooster-Maverick-Goose-Hangman fiasco.
She went to the kitchen and opened the freezer, taking out half-pints of her and Ice's ice cream. Grabbing two spoons, she slipped down the hall to her dad's office but paused when she heard voices.
". . . I messed up big time, Ice. I don't know what to do or how to fix it." It was Jake. Had he come all the way here to seek her father's advice? Brandi crept closer to the door and pressed her ear to it. "After two failed relationships, she swore off guys, but then she began opening up to me and I thought . . . I hoped I might have a shot. Damn it! I really am the Navy's asshole, aren't I?"
Brandi almost laughed at his self-revelation, better late than never. But the smile she wore quickly fell, was she understanding him correctly? Did Jake Seresin like her? Did she like him? She wasn't sure, she had been too busy trying not to fall for someone again that she did not know. How could she even begin to love a man who treated every other person he's met disrespectfully?
And then there was Rooster, the first person she ever loved and loved her back. His reappearance in her life was unwanted and unexpected, but there was still something there, she could see it in his gaze. A blush dusted her cheeks as she thought about the look he gave her earlier that day when Jake grasped her thigh as if he were claiming her as his, telling Rooster to back off. Shit, she was cooked.
Suddenly, the door swung open and she tumbled into the room, managing to right herself and keep a grip on the ice cream containers. She looked up to find her dad staring at her in shock from his desk. She huffed out a laugh and inched back into the hallway. "I see that you're busy, sorry, I'll come back later."
Jake cleared his throat and uncrossed his arms, standing from his spot across from Ice. "Actually, we were just finishing up. Thank you for your time, sir, it was great to see you again." Ice nodded and shook his hand, standing to take the container from his daughter.
"Um, I can walk you out," mumbled Brandi.
"Oh, that's not necessary, sweetheart-"
"I insist." She glanced at her dad and he nodded again, then slipped around Jake as she took a bite of her dessert. "Come along, Seresin."
